Collaborative Communication for the Instructional Design Student
Job Aid Summary & Helpful References
Three Key Drivers for Improving Collaborative Communication:
Interpersonal Skills
Collaborative Technology
Strength Awareness
- Interpersonal Skills -
Photo by Dr. Jeanne Farrington, CSUMB
Developing interpersonal skills leads to personal growth and improved collaboration.
Interpersonal skills are the basis of relationships and involve how we interact with others. They are the techniques and behaviors we use to communicate and are the skills we need to succeed while collaborating, dealing with difficult situations, listening, and expressing ourselves. People who practice good interpersonal skills have become adept at speaking openly, being appropriately assertive, reading body language cues, practicing humility, and empathizing with others.
Nielsen, D., Ballantyne, E., Murad, F., Fournier, M. (2023). Getting Ready for Work-Integrated Learning. BC Campus. Open Education. https://opentextbc.ca/workintegratedlearning
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Emotional Intelligence
Intrapersonal Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Three Ways to Improve Interpersonal Skills
Active Listening
Cultivate Trust
Observe
Nov Verbal Cues
Empathetic
Response
- Collaboration Technology -
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Helpful Google Resources:
Google Workspace Help Center
Article: A Complete Guide to 15+ Workspace Apps
Helpful Google Links
Google Spaces
Google Meet
Google Tasks
Google Community
- Strength Awareness -
Strong individuals make strong teams
The strength-based approach refers to a ‘work practice’ that encourages a focus on strengths rather than weaknesses.
Impact. (2023). Benefits of a Strength-Based Approach. Psychology for Business. https://workwithimpact.co.uk/
As seen in the above conceptual model, when colleagues recognize each other’s strengths, they are able to respond to each other in a positive manner which can improve the energy and engagement experienced. When colleagues use their strengths, they will feel authentic, engaged, and thrive – especially when their strengths are also recognized by others in the environment.
Hannah L. Moore, Arnold B. Bakker & Heleen van Mierlo. (2022). Using strengths and thriving at work: The role of colleague strengths recognition and organizational context. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 31:2, 260-272, DOI: 10.1080/1359432X.2021.1952990
Leverage Team Strengths
Encourage and involve all team members by having a round-robin exchange of ideas from each person. This can be done virtually and through shared documents such as brainstorming.
Assign tasks according to individual experience and talents. Assigning tasks on shared documents can help the team to stay organized and communicate the progress of each project.
Decide on a team leader to organize projects or if each project will have a different project manager.
Accept and provide peer feedback. Understand how your strengths benefit the team and where improvements can be made. This proactive approach ensures that what sets us apart remains relevant and continually refined, always pushing the boundaries of excellence (Forbes, 2023).
Team Building Images Resources and Image Sources:
Building Team Pride and Keeping Everyone Informed
How to Build a Strong Foundation For Your Team
- Aston Carter
